Lonelygirl15

[The Creators]

Our equipment:

Logitech Orbit MP webcam - Used for the full screen footage

Used to use a Panasonic PV-GS180 (or something similar), now also use a Canon GL1 - Used for widescreen handheld footage

Windows, desk lamps, "work lamps" from a hardware store. We recently got a couple of cheap "pro" lights that were only a couple hundred bucks.

Used to use internal mic on the webcam, now use a $100 mic from guitar center.

Edit using Premiere 6.5 on a reasonably good PC. We will hopefully be switching to Final Cut soon.

Key to making the webcam footage look good... use a LOT of light. They pixelate at low light levels.

So, all should be attainable for you guys as well.

Miles

[Swanseaboy]

Thanks for the info!

I will have to purchase some lights

[Swanseaboy]

I tried it out with my webcam on my window sill with plenty of natural light. All it does it make my body look like a big bright light.

If i bought lights the same sort of thing would probably happen.

Hmm, i'm abit stuck with what to do.

[The Creators]

It requires a lot of tweaking and a lot of patience. Usually we had drapes covering the window and we would move them back and forth until just enough light came through. Also, it was diffused (not direct sunlight). The window was west facing and we would film in the morning when the sun was in the east. Sometimes it would take us 45 minutes to get the lighting right.

[Christie91]

[marlasinger]

Makes sense - using low end equipment means you have to be high on creativity and flexibility.

I'm impressed nonetheless.

As for patience, well, you have a lot of that, we're all sure.
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[Killthesmiley]

[wintermute]

If waiting 45 minutes is the difference between an OK shot and an excellent one, I think I'd tweak the lighting for 45 minutes even though I'm not the patient type

'mute
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[Linc]

Forty-five minutes doesn't actually seem all that bad, really.

Not when you compare a student film project that takes (literally, no exaggeration) a total of sixteen hours over two days for a five minute scene, that was later edited down to two. Forty-five minutes is downright speedy.

The beauty of the medium is that light requirements are a lot lower than for film and television, because the field of view is naturally smaller.

Home Depot lights and your Dad's tools can get the job done at a fraction of the cost.
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[kellylen]

45 min isnt long...

but 45 min playing with light

ouch
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-Kelly

[Mgz]

they said sometimes, not always

ps: ahaha beautiful your new avatar!

[Swanseaboy]

Ok, so i have tried other ways, light directly behind the cam with sunlight = too bright.

Diffused light = pixelated

A big bright light meant for spot lighting things = pixelated

The weird thing is...Is that on the webcam software, before recording, the picture looks beautiful, perfect, fine!!!!!

When i then record and play it back, it looks terrible, even if i change the software setting to vga. If i put it to Hd, it goes slow and the sound doesn't go with my mouth!

Hmm....... Help help help lol. I don't think it's just the light thats making it pixelated if on the software before recording it looks perfect!

What do you think!?!?

[tweeface]

If you upload the wrong file type to YouTube, it will do that also. I tried uploading video once and forgot to convert it, and the sound was out of sync until I fixed the format and re-uploaded it.